International Music & Culture

Dorme neném

Dorme neném

"The Cuca, which originally came from the Portuguese coca, a dragon legend, was brought to Brazil in colonial times. The Cuca is an ugly old woman who appears in the form of a crocodile and robs disobedient children. The Cuca only sleeps once every seven years, and parents sometimes use this element of the legend to scare children who don't want to go to sleep, telling them that the Cuca will get them if they don't go to bed." –The Legend of the Cuca

Dorme neném

Lullaby

(Portuguese)

Dorme nenémQue a Cuca vai pegarPapai foi pra roçaMamãe foi trabalhar.

Sleep Baby

Lullaby

(English)

Sleep babyOr Cuca is going to get you,Daddy went to the countrysideMommy went to work.

Dorme neném

Sleep Baby

Lullaby

Lullaby

(Portuguese)

(English)

Dorme nenémQue a Cuca vai pegarPapai foi pra roçaMamãe foi trabalhar.

Sleep babyOr Cuca is going to get you,Daddy went to the countrysideMommy went to work.

Notes

Sleep babyOr the Cuca will catch youDaddy went to the plantationMommy went out for a walk.

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Thanks and Acknowledgements

Translated by Lisa.

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